By: Hegar S.B. No. 580
(Morrison)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to community assistance and economic development program
activities of the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 186, Acts of the 50th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1947, is amended by adding Section 11 to read as
follows:
Sec. 11. (a) In this section, "economic development
program" includes a program designed to:
(1) encourage economic diversification;
(2) contribute to the health and development of a
community to improve the attractiveness of the community to public
and private enterprises; or
(3) improve the quality or quantity of services
essential for the development of viable communities and economic
growth, including services related to education, transportation,
public safety, recreation, health care, training, community
planning, or employment.
(b) The District may sponsor and participate in an economic
development program intended to strengthen the economic base and
further the economic development of this state. A determination by
the Board of Directors that an economic development program is
intended and expected to accomplish the program's stated purposes
is conclusive with respect to whether the program serves the
purposes of this section.
(c) An economic development program must be within:
(1) the territorial boundaries of the District; or
(2) the District's water service area.
(d) An economic development program may be established only
by formal action of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors
shall:
(1) establish the goals of the program;
(2) impose requirements on persons participating in or
receiving a benefit from the program; and
(3) provide restrictions, procedures, and budget
limits the Board of Directors determines are necessary to ensure
that the governmental purposes of this section and the program are
achieved.
(e) An economic development program may involve the
granting or lending of money, services, or property to a person
engaged in an economic development activity.
(f) The District may:
(1) employ staff and spend its resources, other than
money received from an ad valorem tax or a general appropriation, to
further an economic development program; and
(2) apply for and receive money, grants, or other
assistance from any source to implement an economic development
program.
(g) The District and any public or private person may enter
into an agreement with respect to an economic development program.
(h) If the District proposes to provide scholarships,
grants, loans, or financial assistance to a public fire-fighting
organization, the District shall adopt guidelines for determining:
(1) eligibility for the assistance;
(2) the amount of any loan, grant, or other assistance
the District may provide; and
(3) the types of equipment, facilities, education, or
training for which the assistance may be used.
SECTION 2. The legislature finds that the economic
development programs authorized by Section 11, Chapter 186, Acts of
the 50th Legislature, Regular Session, 1947, as added by this Act,
are a specific public purpose and governmental function of the
Lavaca-Navidad River Authority in accordance with:
(1) Section 52-a, Article III, Texas Constitution; and
(2) Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.